St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-08

year." said Fisher. Everybody bows
to everybody out there, and | can't
shake off the custom. Wish / could
really"
"And you 2" continued, turning to
Beardsley.
We all stood in a circle, and l car
see them looking at me.
"Why," he said hesitatingly, 81 sup
posed Fisher knew her, and l bowed
because he did. l thought it was the
proper thing"
"And you ." went on to Kimball.
81 always bow to any pretty woman
when l get the chance" he answered,
unblushingly. "What's the matter,
Seloverq Is she on your list 2"
otis none of your affair."" respond
ed, furiously, "whether she is or not
She is lady, and neither you nor any
other man shall speak of her in my
presence with disrespect."
Kimball smiled little. Then he
said, coolly, "I should certainly speak
with no disrespect of the lady to whom
we refer, as | intend to marry her this
fall"
"Marry her I" l gasped. "You have
just said you did not know her."
L
rected Kimball.
"Then you do know her9" said |,
feeling a faintness coming over me.
81 won't deceive YOU" said Kimball.
81 never saw her until a moment ago ;
but l shall marry her nevertheless.
Listen. Today is the 9th of August.
| shall get introduced to her, say, by
the 18th, and get leave to call by the
18th. l shall pop the mOmentOus ques-
ton about the Goth, and she will give
me an affirmative answer on the 2lst.
1t will take a month or two to prepare
for the wedding, the exact date of
which L cannot, consequently, give
you until later. Don't think Pm jOk-
ing, my dear boy, for Pm not. I've
been thinking seriously all the sum-
mer of settling down, and this lady
has fastened my plans but little.
How blank you all look Wont you
congratulate me 2" Kimball laughed
at his own bad attempt at wit, but no.
body joined him.
81 give you notice." said Fisher,
who had become very sober during
the last few minutes, "that l shall be
your rival. If ever face was destin-
ed to take my heart captive, it was the
one we Just encountered. If you mean
fair, Kimball, it's all right, and who
ever she decides upon, him let it be
If you try any nonsense, you know
me.n He gave his hand to Kimball,
show of sOlemnity.
"But 1 say" protested Beardsley,
"don't leave me out, you know. And
here's Selover, who seems to have got
hit the earliest of any of u.s."
"Don't think am going to connect
that lady's name with aey fOOlery," L
said, sternly.
"Her name q-what is her name ~
cried all three in one breath.
81 don't know"
"But [ say" drawled Beardsley,
"you can't connect lady's name with
anything unless you find out what it
is, you know" -. -,
"YOu have seen her before z" said
Fisher, gravely.
eyes"
"Spoken with herr"
Undoubtedly"
"Tell me candidly, then, whether
you know of any legitimate reason
why | should not offer my hand"
DOR l." "Or l." added the others.
1t was beginning to look silly.
"In your professions there is more
or less of levity," answered, "while
am in the most solemn earnest. L
have met this lady, talked with her.,
and while I have made no formal
avowal l think she realizes the sinceri
ty of my attachment. If you persist in
considering the theme worthy the tone
you have adopted, we part friendship
here"
They could not help seeing that
meant what l said.
~ never asserted a truer thing in
my life than when L tell you that |
mean to offer myself to this lady," said
Kimball.
''Nor l." said both the others.
1 turned angrily away, and went
back to the hotel alone. 1t seemed to
me that persons who did not know
when a joke was out of place were un-
fit associates for gentleman who had
his serious moments. L took pains to
avoid them during the week which fol-
lowed, and | soon noticed that the
had become general.
Beardsley would meet Kimball with
out recognition, and Kimball would
encounter Fisher as though he were a
total stranger. | rose early every
morning and strOlled out by the cot
tage where | had left the widow, but
finding that my steps were logged by
the others, l took care not to do any
thing which should convey to their
minds the slightest information. She
seemed to have given up her early
walks, as l never saw her on these oc
casions. l took a doleful pleasure in
turning suddenly and retracing my
steps after passing corners, for | was
sure to stumble upon my three rivals,
scattered along the way, and each en-
gagged in admiring the horizon as | ap-
peared. l haunted the vicinity of the
Congress spring, where she did not
come either, and my rivals became
wildly fond of the beverage which is
handed up by the small boys at that
point. In the evenings l walked up
and down the long piazzas of the
Grand Union, with my three former
associates struggling in my rear, but
there were no signs of my charmer.
One day, when had become almost
desperate, saw her out driving with
the elderly lady. l threw discretion
to the winds, and hastily engaging a
carriage, babe the driver follow. By
arranging my route L succeeded in
her squarely at one of the
curves of the road by the lake, and
boldly raised my hat. Joy of joys
She gave me a most pleasant nod in
return. But, alas! as L turned to
catch the last glimpse of my divinity
l saw Fisher, Kimball and Beardsley,
each in separate carriage, and look
ing awfully like a procession, bowling
to her also, and each receiving an an
swering nod. The thing was very alb
surd. But it gave me a sharp pain,
and drove back to the hotel.